Hamber’s Concert & Pep Bands Prepare for Upcoming Spring Events

Mr. Francis conducts one of Hamber’s bands | Photo Credit: Evan Couch

Hamber’s band will be performing a variety of concerts and shows this spring, including shows at Hamber events, concerts outside of school, and a department showcase. The Nest interviewed Mr. N. Francis (Music), to get information on all the upcoming events.

“Our pep band, which is sort of like the school spirit band, will be playing for events like Midtown Showdown and clubs’ days,” said Mr. Francis. “Our symphonic band and wind ensemble have a concert on March the 9th at the Canadian Memorial United, which is an all Japanese event called A Postcard From Japan, so we’re really excited about that.” 

The Eric Hamber Music Department Showcase occurred on Mar. 2, which featured jazz bands, strings, and choir performances. It took place in the Hamber auditorium. The last event will be the wind ensemble going on tour on the last six days of spring break from Mar. 21 to 26, in Toronto and Montreal, for their annual Spring Tour.

To prepare for these events, band groups practise multiple times a week. The symphonic band is a semester course, so they practise every day, whereas all of the other bands run off the timetable and practise all year. 

Practices can be in the mornings, or go all the way until five in the evenings. “It’s a bunch of extra time. But for the people who are committed to the music and the time, it’s worth it,” Mr. Francis commented.

“I am excited to fully showcase my abilities,” Saige Adams (11) shared. “The March 2nd concert will be my first time playing both guitar and drums in a school band performance at Hamber.” 

Adams will be performing in both the Eric Hamber Music Showcase, as well as A Postcard From Japan.

The expected turnout for these shows is rather large. A Postcard from Japan expects an audience of about 150 people, and the Eric Hamber Music Showcase expects a turnout of around 200 people.

This a huge improvement from a couple of years ago, when COVID-19 was dictating a lot of the shows and practice times. 

“During the first round of shutdowns, you couldn’t have a band at all,” said Mr. Francis. Since the band couldn’t function online, all of their shows and the trip to New Orleans that was planned that year were all cancelled.

“Having things back, like our concerts at full capacity, like our trips, all the things we could do getting together […] that's been really, really great,” he explained. “It's been really good for us and helped us recover and rebuild from all the disruption.” 

With all these concerts and shows, the band is going to be very busy this spring. “I highly encourage anyone to come experience a Hamber band concert. Every band has something to offer, and music is best experienced firsthand,” said Adams.